Novel fence assembly

ABSTRACT

The invention is a fence system having a base, said base having a receiving cavity formed for receiving a connecting leg, a vertical connector plate system formed with a rotational connecting leg configured to connect with said receiving cavity, a rail configured to secure into said a vertical connector plate system, whereby said system, in an assembled configuration provides said vertical connector plate system in a substantially perpendicular to said base, said system including a storage configuration and an assembled configuration whereby movement between each configuration is rotational about pivots incorporated with said vertical connector plates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to movable assembled fence systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, each panel of this fencing system is 24′ long with 5 horizontal rails and 2 vertical end rails (square tubing). There are 3 vertical (flat bar) uprights per panel at the 6′, 12′ and 15′ positions. The panels are supported by 2 legs that are detachable and can be removed and re-attached at 90 degrees from the original position in order to align with the fence rails for transport. Each panel has 2 hooks on the top rail to attach chains for raising & lowering the panel into position with a forklift or backhoe. Each panel has a locking mechanism on the 3^(rd) rail to allow the panel to stand up or collapse. This mechanism allows the collapsed fence to be locked with a pin (see video)

Landowners with oil leases are always very concerned about the impact of oil services on their livestock. For this reason, well sites must be fenced off from livestock. Drilling holes for fence posts is costly and time-consuming. When the fences are removed, the holes left by the fence posts can seriously injure livestock.

Cattle are known to lean against fences, so the system must be strong and rigid enough to not sustain damage when this occurs. The bracing, construction and steel used in this system will create a system strong enough to withstand cattle leaning against it.

This system allows for fencing to be erected and removed without the need for fencepost holes, and is much more cost effective than building and removing traditional fencing, as would be required when the need for temporary fencing occurs. The inventor plans to offer a turnkey service, including cartage, erection and removal of this system. Up to a half-mile of fencing can be carried on a 40′ flat deck trailer.

This system can be used anywhere portable fencing is required, providing a very strong, easily erected steel fence without the need for drilling posts and manually building a fence.

In one embodiment, the invention is a fence system comprising:

a base, said base having a receiving cavity formed for receiving a connecting leg; a vertical connector plate system formed with a rotational connecting leg configured to connect with said receiving cavity; a rail configured to secure into said a vertical connector plate system; whereby said system, in an assembled configuration provides said vertical connector plate system in a substantially perpendicular to said base; said system including a storage configuration and an assembled configuration whereby movement between each configuration is rotational about pivots incorporated with said vertical connector plates.

The base, in one embodiment, is positioned substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane encompassing said rail.

The system is configured to impart a returnable deformable perpendicular offset in response to force imparted from either side of said system.

In one embodiment, the system is configured to impart a returnable deformable perpendicular offset of 0.1-70 degrees relative to initial perpendicular position in response to force imparted from either side of said system. That is to say, a substantially vertical fence can be offset up to 70 degrees from perpendicular in the direction of the ground and, upon removal of force causing the offset, the fence will return to a substantially vertical position. Only the portion or portions subject to force will offset, along with adjacent portions.

The system is configured to impart a returnable deformable perpendicular offset in response to force imparted from either side of said system and further wherein said base remains in a substantially unmoved position when said system is subject to force applied from either side.

The system has an assembled arrangement and an unassembled stacked arrangement for transport of said system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side view of one embodiment of the fence according to the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a side collapsed view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a partial side view demonstrative of pivotbale motion of assembly and retraction of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the fence according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connecting system in one embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of a stabilizing leg and base according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a single stabilizing leg point of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a lifting bracket according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the side connecting plate system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention in a transportation/storage configuration.

FIG. 9 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention in a transportation/storage configuration.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a bottom rail and stand in the transported/storage configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partial side view of the pin locking mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partial side view of the motion of the pin locking mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing center point of gravity in relation to external force “P.”

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention includes a fence system 10 having a plurality of horizontal rails 12, a top horizontal rail 12 a, and a bottom rail 14. Each of horizontal rail 12, 12 a, and bottom rail 14 are connected to vertical connector plate system 16. Fence system 10 further includes a plurality of positioning brackets 18 that are included with an uppermost top rail 12 a as demonstrated in FIG. 1. Vertical connector plate 16 has associated therewith, several connection bolts 24 that are constructed and arranged to secure any horizontal rail 12, 12 a, or bottom rail 14 securely to vertical connector plate system 16. The connector plate system 16 includes a front plate 16 a, back plate 16 b and plate cavity 16 c there between. In one embodiment, as demonstrated in FIG. 3, bottom rail 14 has associated therewith a gusset plate 22 wherein a single gusset plate 22 is positioned on either side of vertical connector plate system 16 and the underside of bottom rail 14. Vertical connector plate system 16 has, on its lower end, a stabilizer to rail connection tube 28. Vertical connector plate system 16 is constructed and arranged with a stabilizer to rail connection tube 28 that interacts with stabilizing leg assembly 34. A securing pin 36 is passed through pin cavity 32 and secured into position with cotter pin 38.

In one embodiment, a base rail 20 is constructed and arranged to receive stabilizing leg assembly 34 whereby stabilizing leg assembly 34 having leg connector 35 formed on one end interacts with a cavity formed within base rail 20.

Horizontal rail 12 a is optionally formed with positioning bracket 18 associated therewith. Positioning bracket 18 can be integral and unitary with horizontal rail 12 a, welded or otherwise attached to horizontal rail 12 a, or otherwise bolted or removably attached to horizontal rail 12 a. As generally understood horizontal rail 12 is a fixed in position between a cavity 16 c formed on the interior of connector plate system 16 by front plate 16 a, back plate 16 b, as best seen in FIG. 7. Once horizontal rail 12 is positioned connecting bolt 24 secures horizontal rail into position within vertical connector plate 16.

As demonstrated in FIGS. 1B and 1C, fence assembly 10 has a retracted configuration (FIG. 1C) whereby plate system 16 is configured to move about a pivot and form an assembled configuration (FIG. 1B). Once positioned in an assembled configuration, a vertical lock 40 is secured with vertical lock pin 42 along rail 14, as seen in FIG. 11. As seen in FIG. 12, the movement of lock 40 pivotably rotates about connection bolt 22.

In one embodiment, the present invention encompasses an unassembled configuration 30 best demonstrated in FIG. 8, whereby a plurality of rail sections are stacked in in on connected configuration for easy storage and/or transport.

In one embodiment, system 10 includes an assembled configuration as demonstrated in FIG. 1 and a disassembled figuration as demonstrated in FIG. 8. In the assembled configuration, base rail 20 is set upon a surface of a plurality of vertical connector plate assemblies 16 are connected thereto by insertion of leg connector 35 of stabilizing leg assembly 34 into an appropriately formed receiving socket on base rail 20. Bottom rail 14 including more than one section is positioned within vertical rail connector plate cavity 16C and is secured into position with a connection bolt 24 that passes through each of the vertical connector plate assembly 16 and bottom rail 14. As best seen in FIG. 7, connector plate assembly 16 includes a front connector plates 16 a back connector plate 16 b and a cavity 16 c between each of the aforementioned plates. Once a rail is positioned connecting bolt 24 secures it into a substantially immovable position. Assembly 10, is further assembled by positioning a plurality of horizontal rails 12 and securing them to vertical connector plate assembly 16 similarly utilizing connecting bolts. Once the desired height has been achieved upper horizontal rail 12 a being the uppermost of any of the horizontal rails in fence assembly 10 is secured into position.

The improved configuration of assembly 10 provides for a fence that is deformable from a perpendicular orientation. That is to say, in a rest position each vertical connector plate assembly 16 is substantially perpendicular to base rail 20. When pressure is applied from either side of fence assembly 10, the fence is configured to bend and offset from the perpendicular configuration in response to apply pressure. For example, if a person driving a vehicle were to push against fence assembly 10, the assembly would move in response to the applied pressure however, when the applied pressure is released, for example when the vehicle is no longer contacting fence assembly 10, the entire assembly reef turns to a substantially perpendicular configuration. This is accomplished without use of any types of spring mechanism and solely by the ability of each vertical connector plate assembly 16 able to move within a secured socket by virtue of rotational motion of leg connector 35. The plurality of vertical connector plate 16 arranged along a section of fence each act to urge and maintain the substantial perpendicular orientation. When one section is offset from perpendicular orientation, assembly 10 as a whole urges the offset vertical connector plate systems 16 such that once pressure is released a substantially perpendicular orientation is resumed. As shown in FIG. 13, external force P is applied at any distance along dimension B above center point of gravity P, the fence will bend relative to the force and, upon release of the force, return to the substantially perpendicular configuration.

This is applicable in many situations including, but not limited to, farm animals and livestock that brush up against fences and exert pressure that often damage conventional fence systems. The system of the present invention provides for a fence system that reacts to these various pressures and returns to a desired perpendicular orientation.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A fence system comprising: a base, said base having a receiving cavity formed for receiving a connecting leg; a vertical connector plate system formed with a rotational connecting leg configured to connect with said receiving cavity; a rail configured to secure into said a vertical connector plate system; whereby said system, in an assembled configuration provides said vertical connector plate system in a substantially perpendicular to said base; said system including a storage configuration and an assembled configuration whereby movement between each configuration is rotational about pivots incorporated with said vertical connector plates.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said base is positioned substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane encompassing said rail.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said system is configured to impart a returnable deformable perpendicular offset in response to force imparted from either side of said system.
 4. The system of claim 1, The system of claim 1 wherein said system is configured to impart a returnable deformable perpendicular offset of 0.1-70 degrees relative to initial perpendicular position in response to force imparted from either side of said system.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said system is configured to impart a returnable deformable perpendicular offset in response to force imparted from either side of said system and further wherein said base remains in a substantially unmoved position when said system is subject to force applied from either side.
 6. The system of claim 1 including an unassembled stacked arrangement for transport of said system. 